Press and Information Division

INFORMATION FOR THE PRESS No 01/02

10 January 2002

NEW FINNISH JUDGE AT THE COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES

FORMAL SITTING ON 16 JANUARY 2002, 6 P.M.

Following the entry of Finland into the European Union, the Conference of the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States appointed the Finnish Judge Leif Sevón as a Judge of the Court of Justice of the European Communities. He entered into office on 19 January 1995. In 1997, the Representatives of the Governments renewed his mandate for another 6 years to 6 October 2003.

As Mr Sevón has been appointed as the President of the Supreme Court of Finland, he will leave his office at the Court of Justice of the European Communities.

On 19 December 2001, the Conference of the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States adopted a decision appointing the Finnish Professor of Law Allan Rosas as a Judge of the Court of Justice of the European Communities for the period from 16 January 2002 to 6 October 2003.

The Court of Justice will hold a formal sitting on the occasion of the departure of Judge Leif Sevón and the entry into office of Mr Allan Rosas, on Wednesday 16 January 2002 at 6 p.m.

Leif Sev ó n
Born 1941; Doctor of Law (OTL) of the University of Helsinki; Director at the Ministry of Justice; Adviser at the Trade Directorate of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Judge at the Supreme Court; Judge at the EFTA Court; President of the EFTA Court; Judge at the Court of Justice since 19 January 1995.

Allan Rosas

Born 1948; Doctor of Laws 1977 of the University of Turku (Finland); Professor of Law at the University of Turku 1978-1981 and at the Abo Akademi University (Turku/Abo) 1981- 1996; Director of its Institute for Human Rights 1985-1995; various international and national academic postions of trust and memberships in learned societies; coordinated several international and national research projects and programmes, including in the fields of EUlaw, international law, humanitarian and human rights law, constitutional law and comparative public administration; represented the Finnish Government as member of, or adviser to, Finnish delegations to various international conferences and meetings; expert functions in relation to Finnish legal life, including governmental law commissions and committees of the Finnish Parliament, as well as the UN, UNESCO, OSCE (CSCE) and the Council of Europe; since 1995 Principal Legal Adviser at the Legal Service of the European Commission, in charge of external relations; since March 2001, Deputy Director-General of the Legal Service.

If you want to participate, please send the annexed form by fax before Tuesday 14 January 2002, 12.00 a.m. to the Press and Information Division of the Court of Justice - fax number: 00352-4303-2734.

A press release in Finnish and English will be available for you.

The television team “Europe by Satellite” will film the sitting.

Should you require further information, please contact Mrs Ulrike Städtler - tel number: 00352-4303-2409.


A PRESS ROOM WITH OFFICE EQUIPMENT WILL BE AVAILABLE

Please note the following;

* the use of mobile phones or other loud electronic devices is not permitted during the sitting;

* the public is requested to remain quiet and seated throughout the hearing or ceremony;

* the use of flash or supplementary lighting systems is not permitted;

* if numerous photographers and cameramen are interested, a .pool. may be arranged by the Press and Information Division;

* photographers and cameramen may not move around the hearing room in order to take photographs or to film;

* press are asked to use the Thomas More entrance, Boulevard Konrad Adenauer.



ACCREDITATION FORM

    FOR MEDIA USE ONLY

Accreditation to be sent by fax to: 00 352 4303 2734
Contact: Mrs Ulrike Städtler
Tel: 00 352 4303 2409


Name:

          

Press Agency / Organisation:

          

Contact number (Tel):

      

(Fax):          
Number of persons:
          
Do you seek authorisation to photograph?
(Please delete as appropriate) Yes No
          
Do you seek authorisation to film?
(Please delete as appropriate) Yes No
          

In principle, your application will be accepted, unless you are otherwise informed by the Court.